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memoranduming； and despatch…boxing； on this mighty subject。 The
sticks were housed at Westminster； and it would naturally occur to
any intelligent person that nothing could be easier than to allow
them to be carried away for fire…wood by the miserable people who
live in that neighbourhood。 However； they never had been useful；
and official routine required that they never should be； and so the
order went forth that they were to be privately and confidentially
burnt。 It came to pass that they were burnt in a stove in the
House of Lords。 The stove； overgorged with these preposterous
sticks； set fire to the panelling； the panelling set fire to the
House of Lords； the House of Lords set fire to the House of
Commons； the two houses were reduced to ashes； architects were
called in to build others； we are now in the second million of the
cost thereof； the national pig is not nearly over the stile yet；
and the little old woman； Britannia； hasn't got home to…night。
Now； I think we may reasonably remark； in conclusion； that all
obstinate adherence to rubbish which the time has long outlived； is
certain to have in the soul of it more or less that is pernicious
and destructive； and that will some day set fire to something or
other； which； if given boldly to the winds would have been
harmless； but which； obstinately retained； is ruinous。 I believe
myself that when Administrative Reform goes up it will be idle to
hope to put it down； on this or that particular instance。 The
great； broad； and true cause that our public progress is far behind
our private progress； and that we are not more remarkable for our
private wisdom and success in matters of business than we are for
our public folly and failure； I take to be as clearly established
as the sun； moon； and stars。 To set this right； and to clear the
way in the country for merit everywhere： accepting it equally
whether it be aristocratic or democratic； only asking whether it be
honest or true； is； I take it； the true object of this Association。
This object it seeks to promote by uniting together large numbers
of the people； I hope； of all conditions； to the end that they may
better comprehend； bear in mind； understand themselves； and impress
upon others； the common public duty。 Also； of which there is great
need； that by keeping a vigilant eye on the skirmishers thrown out
from time to time by the Party of Generals； they may see that their
feints and manoeuvres do not oppress the small defaulters and
release the great； and that they do not gull the public with a mere
field…day Review of Reform； instead of an earnest； hard…fought
Battle。 I have had no consultation with any one upon the subject；
but I particularly wish that the directors may devise some means of
enabling intelligent working men to join this body； on easier terms
than subscribers who have larger resources。 I could wish to see
great numbers of them belong to us； because I sincerely believe
that it would be good for the common weal。
Said the noble Lord at the head of the Government； when Mr。 Layard
asked him for a day for his motion； 〃Let the hon。 gentleman find a
day for himself。〃
〃Now； in the names of all the gods at once；
Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed
That he is grown so great？〃
If our Caesar will excuse me； I would take the liberty of reversing
that cool and lofty sentiment； and I would say； 〃First Lord； your
duty it is to see that no man is left to find a day for himself。
See you； who take the responsibility of government； who aspire to
it； live for it； intrigue for it； scramble for it； who hold to it
tooth…and…nail when you can get it； see you that no man is left to
find a day for himself。 In this old country； with its seething
hard…worked millions； its heavy taxes； its swarms of ignorant； its
crowds of poor； and its crowds of wicked； woe the day when the
dangerous man shall find a day for himself； because the head of the
Government failed in his duty in not anticipating it by a brighter
and a better one！ Name you the day； First Lord； make a day； work
for a day beyond your little time； Lord Palmerston； and History in
return may then … not otherwise … find a day for you； a day equally
associated with the contentment of the loyal； patient； willing…
hearted English people； and with the happiness of your Royal
Mistress and her fair line of children。〃
SPEECH： SHEFFIELD； DECEMBER 22； 1855。
＇On Saturday Evening Mr。 Charles Dickens read his Christmas Carol
in the Mechanics' Hall in behalf of the funds of the Institute。
After the reading the Mayor said； he had been charged by a few
gentlemen in Sheffield to present to Mr。 Dickens for his acceptance
a very handsome service of table cutlery； a pair of razors； and a
pair of fish carvers； as some substantial manifestation of their
gratitude to Mr。 Dickens for his kindness in coming to Sheffield。
Henceforth the Christmas of 1855 would be associated in his mind
with the name of that gentleman。＇
MR。 CHARLES DICKENS； in receiving the presentation； said； he
accepted with heartfelt delight and cordial gratitude such
beautiful specimens of Sheffield…workmanship； and he begged to
assure them that the kind observations which had been made by the
Mayor； and the way in which they had been responded to by that
assembly； would never be obliterated from his remembrance。 The
present testified not only to the work of Sheffield hands； but to
the warmth and generosity of Sheffield hearts。 It was his earnest
desire to do right by his readers； and to leave imaginative and
popular literature associated with the private homes and public
rights of the people of England。 The case of cutlery with which he
had been so kindly presented； should be retained as an heirloom in
his family； and he assured them that he should ever be faithful to
his death to the principles which had earned for him their
approval。 In taking his reluctant leave of them； he wished them
many merry Christmases； and many happy new years。
SPEECH： LONDON； FEBRUARY 9； 1858。
＇At the Anniversary Festival of the Hospital for Sick Children； on
Tuesday； February the 9th； 1858； about one hundred and fifty
gentlemen sat down to dinner； in the Freemasons' Hall。 Later in
the evening all the seats in the gallery were filled with ladies
interested in the success of the Hospital。 After the usual loyal
and other toasts； the Chairman； Mr。 Dickens； proposed 〃Prosperity
to the Hospital for Sick Children；〃 and said：…＇
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN； … It is one of my rules in life not to
believe a man who may happen to tell me that he feels no interest
in children。 I hold myself bound to this principle by all kind
consideration； because I know； as we all must； that any heart which
could really toughen its affections and sympathies against those
dear little people must be wanting in so many humanising
experiences of innocence and tenderness；